Palace on wheels

killerwhale · May 17th, 2008, 18:41

Has anyone been on the palace on wheels?I plan to treat my mother for her 70th birthday to her first trip to india and dont want to rough it.I know it is expensive but is it worth the money?

camelgirl · May 17th, 2008, 21:36

My in-laws took the Palace on Wheels in 1986. My father-in-law was 73 y.o. at the time. They loved it. I think I might also, but it is definitely out of my budget as the price has soared since then. At that time they still used a steam engine. We actually met the train when it arrived in Jaisalmer (before they were on it), and took photos of it. It is now a modern engine.

Maybe I'll hit the lottery one day and I'll take it!

capt_mahajan · May 17th, 2008, 21:46

Quote:

I know it is expensive

Yes

Quote:

but is it worth the money?

That is the difficult one to answer.

My sense would be, if the money doesn't pinch too much, and considering it is a treat for your mother- do it.

Meanwhile, some reviews- mixed, expectedly, because expectations are high

http://www.mouthshut.com/product-rev...925004281.html

edwardseco · May 17th, 2008, 22:49

Second hand, people have told me that they enjoyed it. They suggested not taking too much luggage as space is limited. Enjoy..

Mickey S · May 18th, 2008, 04:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerwhale

Has anyone been on the palace on wheels?I plan to treat my mother for her 70th birthday to her first trip to india and dont want to rough it.I know it is expensive but is it worth the money?

You can have a pretty luxurious time in India without booking the Palace on Wheels. I took my 70-year-old mother to India at Christmas and we had the most fantastic time, staying at heritage hotels and havelis and travelling by ordinary trains, for (relatively) very little money indeed. It just takes careful research and planning.

camelgirl · May 18th, 2008, 04:50

I also have a hard time with the cost of the Palace on Wheels for what you actually get and agree that for less money you can create a very comfortable and luxurious trip and include a couple of nice train rides or a plane.

I worked it out and the prices come down to about $800 a day for two people during the impossibly hot summer (worst time to visit Rajasthan) and $1,080 a day during the normal/comfortable weather season.

You can get some extreme luxury for those prices at some of the most fabulous hotels, private a/c cars, wonderful food and way more comfortable beds than the POW can offer. It is well worth visiting Rajasthan and you can create a wonderful trip your mother will love without the POW.

And I'm a huge Indian train fan but this really seems like taking advantage of people with these prices.

I honestly don't get it

Originally, the POW was a more low-key luxury affair with the actual old Maharaja's fancy old train cars (when my father-in-law went) and even though they were expensive for the time, they were not over-the-top like now or he never would have gone.

zoltan · May 18th, 2008, 05:04

Hi,

I think that $800 per day (or thereabouts), is an obscene amount of money to spend on a train journey - you're not actually gettting to see India as you hurtle across the plains.

And I too agree that a better way to spend the money would be to get an airconditioned hire-car (to get around from A=>B) and stay at some heritage hotels. It would work out significantly cheaper and, your mother would get to enjoy her time in India with a large degree of comfort and a lesser budget.

Cheers
Zoltan

capt_mahajan · May 18th, 2008, 08:08

Quote:

$800 a day for two people during the impossibly hot summer (worst time to visit Rajasthan) and $1,080 a day during the normal/comfortable weather season.

They have raised the rates, then, from the last time I casually checked. (When you can't afford it, be casual!)

Agree with the others. NOT worth it. Not unless this is a downpayment towards buying the damn train.

machadinha · May 18th, 2008, 08:21

It's perversely expensive yes, and I agree for that money you could have the far better ultra-star trip all at your own whims yourself (I never tried either option, mind). I mean for that money, why be stuck to an ff'ing train with some tacky attendants in Rajasthani wear who probably hail from Haryana Himachal Bihar etc. anyway right (or from Rajasthan for all we know but who would never dress that way) (and I think that price includes most anything but drinks [presumably far from cheap on board] are at your expense?

)

However, if money is no object, I imagine and hear it's good, so I wouldn't speak against the trip as such (I thought some of the reviews in the above MouthShut link funny though. "It was clear from the start that this was not a luxury train, or anything close, by western standards." Yes, I suppose at $ 800 a day any train would seem to be below standards.) I dunno, maybe do a semi-upclass trip of your own and donate the rest to a charity of your choice

But seriously: I've checked out several POW links in the course of many queries here. I think it looks quite nice. Just absurdly expensive, indeed.

ranjan154 · May 18th, 2008, 10:39

It is one of the nicest and excellent arrangement by railways to visit Rajasthan. It is very comfortable and magnificient way to see the golden past of Indian history.

machadinha · May 18th, 2008, 10:43

At 800-1000 bucks a day (and we're not talking Rupees), I would sure hope so!

brishti · May 18th, 2008, 10:52

... and yet the train is booked

[ doubt they're running at a loss ]
it takes all kinds of travelers dont it... its the proverbial memsahib/sahib train i guess

:brishti

puchoo · May 18th, 2008, 10:54

I am more aligned to Zoltan on this. I know of only 1 family who has been on this , and they happened to be the family of a very very senior Railways official (so it was free) , at 800 USD i would prefer to hire a car and drive around, and with a daily budget like that one can stay at some of the top hotels on the way as well...

machadinha · May 18th, 2008, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by brishti

... and yet the train is booked

I hear one needs to book very early yes (as in half a year or longer in advance).

Hey, don't ask me.... I'm just a poor boy & please don't let me be misunderstood, and so on

brishti · May 18th, 2008, 11:27

heck - takes alot for me to misunderstand mach - clarifications are a paininthearse - anyways, its a sunday [day of rest etc etc]

i doubt its only about monies - think its more to do with lifestyle.
i know lots of them folks who can afford it - but would rather spend the monies on traveling to ulan bator

and then there are those - the train epitomises luxury travel.

whichever way your boat floats i guess

:brishti

May 17th, 2008, 18:41	#1
killerwhale Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: uk Posts: 15	Palace on wheels Has anyone been on the palace on wheels?I plan to treat my mother for her 70th birthday to her first trip to india and dont want to rough it.I know it is expensive but is it worth the money?

May 17th, 2008, 21:36	#2
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,026	My in-laws took the Palace on Wheels in 1986. My father-in-law was 73 y.o. at the time. They loved it. I think I might also, but it is definitely out of my budget as the price has soared since then. At that time they still used a steam engine. We actually met the train when it arrived in Jaisalmer (before they were on it), and took photos of it. It is now a modern engine. Maybe I'll hit the lottery one day and I'll take it! __________________ My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

May 18th, 2008, 05:04	#7
zoltan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 656	Hi, I think that $800 per day (or thereabouts), is an obscene amount of money to spend on a train journey - you're not actually gettting to see India as you hurtle across the plains. And I too agree that a better way to spend the money would be to get an airconditioned hire-car (to get around from A=>B) and stay at some heritage hotels. It would work out significantly cheaper and, your mother would get to enjoy her time in India with a large degree of comfort and a lesser budget. Cheers Zoltan __________________ India (and other) photos click here

May 18th, 2008, 08:21	#9
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,584	It's perversely expensive yes, and I agree for that money you could have the far better ultra-star trip all at your own whims yourself (I never tried either option, mind). I mean for that money, why be stuck to an ff'ing train with some tacky attendants in Rajasthani wear who probably hail from Haryana Himachal Bihar etc. anyway right (or from Rajasthan for all we know but who would never dress that way) (and I think that price includes most anything but drinks [presumably far from cheap on board] are at your expense? ) However, if money is no object, I imagine and hear it's good, so I wouldn't speak against the trip as such (I thought some of the reviews in the above MouthShut link funny though. "It was clear from the start that this was not a luxury train, or anything close, by western standards." Yes, I suppose at $ 800 a day any train would seem to be below standards.) I dunno, maybe do a semi-upclass trip of your own and donate the rest to a charity of your choice But seriously: I've checked out several POW links in the course of many queries here. I think it looks quite nice. Just absurdly expensive, indeed. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

May 18th, 2008, 10:39	#10
ranjan154 Amateur Photographer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Noida (India) Posts: 848	It is one of the nicest and excellent arrangement by railways to visit Rajasthan. It is very comfortable and magnificient way to see the golden past of Indian history. __________________ Rakesh Ranjan -------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/travinfoindia/

May 17th, 2008, 22:49	#4
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,938	Second hand, people have told me that they enjoyed it. They suggested not taking too much luggage as space is limited. Enjoy..

May 18th, 2008, 04:50	#6
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,026	I also have a hard time with the cost of the Palace on Wheels for what you actually get and agree that for less money you can create a very comfortable and luxurious trip and include a couple of nice train rides or a plane. I worked it out and the prices come down to about $800 a day for two people during the impossibly hot summer (worst time to visit Rajasthan) and $1,080 a day during the normal/comfortable weather season. You can get some extreme luxury for those prices at some of the most fabulous hotels, private a/c cars, wonderful food and way more comfortable beds than the POW can offer. It is well worth visiting Rajasthan and you can create a wonderful trip your mother will love without the POW. And I'm a huge Indian train fan but this really seems like taking advantage of people with these prices. I honestly don't get it Originally, the POW was a more low-key luxury affair with the actual old Maharaja's fancy old train cars (when my father-in-law went) and even though they were expensive for the time, they were not over-the-top like now or he never would have gone.

May 18th, 2008, 10:43	#11
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,584	At 800-1000 bucks a day (and we're not talking Rupees), I would sure hope so!

May 18th, 2008, 10:52	#12
brishti just another member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 1,979	... and yet the train is booked [ doubt they're running at a loss ] it takes all kinds of travelers dont it... its the proverbial memsahib/sahib train i guess :brishti

May 18th, 2008, 10:54	#13
puchoo Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 3,765	I am more aligned to Zoltan on this. I know of only 1 family who has been on this , and they happened to be the family of a very very senior Railways official (so it was free) , at 800 USD i would prefer to hire a car and drive around, and with a daily budget like that one can stay at some of the top hotels on the way as well... __________________ Cheers! Sidharth Indiamike Mod team............the new kid on the block! puchoo.wordpress.com

May 18th, 2008, 11:27	#15
brishti just another member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 1,979	heck - takes alot for me to misunderstand mach - clarifications are a paininthearse - anyways, its a sunday [day of rest etc etc] i doubt its only about monies - think its more to do with lifestyle. i know lots of them folks who can afford it - but would rather spend the monies on traveling to ulan bator and then there are those - the train epitomises luxury travel. whichever way your boat floats i guess :brishti

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